If you’re using 3D printing for aluminum alloy parts—whether for aerospace components, industrial fixtures, or custom accessories—understanding the cost per gram is critical for budgeting. Unlike resin or PLA 3D printing, 3D printed aluminum alloys balance strength and lightweight properties but come with higher costs, che va da 70 RMB/gram for mass-produced parts A 450 RMB/gram for small-batch, Componenti ad alta precisione. This guide breaks down core cost drivers, fornisce pratici riferimenti di prezzo, condivide suggerimenti per risparmiare sui costi, and answers common questions to help you make informed decisions.
1. 4 Core Factors That Impact the Cost of 3D Printed Aluminum Alloys Per Gram
The cost per gram of 3D printed aluminum alloys is shaped by tangible factors—from the printing technology used to post-processing complexity. Di seguito è riportata una ripartizione dettagliata con numeri reali per illustrarne l’impatto:
(1) 3D Printing Technology Type
Technology is the primary cost driver, as different methods vary in precision, velocità, and equipment investment. The three most common technologies for aluminum alloy 3D printing are:
| Tipo di tecnologia | Costo al grammo (RMB/grammo) | Caratteristiche chiave | Applicazioni tipiche |
| Filting laser selettivo (SLM) | 150 ~ 450 | Precisione ultra-alta (tolleranza ± 0,02 mm), ideal for complex, small-batch parts; costi elevati di attrezzature e materiali | Componenti aerospaziali (PER ESEMPIO., staffe del motore), Impianti medici |
| Fusione con fascio di elettroni (EBM) | 80 ~ 250 | Suitable for large-scale industrial parts; lower cost than SLM but slightly reduced precision (tolleranza ± 0,05 mm) | Industrial fixtures (PER ESEMPIO., drone mounts), Parti strutturali automobilistiche |
| Getto vincolante | 70 ~ 230 | Costo unitario più basso per la produzione di massa; requires post-processing (debinding, Sintering) but efficient for bulk orders | Mass-produced small parts (PER ESEMPIO., custom fasteners, decorative accessories) |
Esempio: A 30g aluminum alloy part printed via SLM costs 4,500 ~ 13,500 RMB. The same part printed via Binding Jetting costs 2,100 ~ 6,900 RMB—50% cheaper—though it needs additional post-processing steps.
(2) Aluminum Alloy Grade
The grade of aluminum alloy directly affects material costs, as specialized grades (PER ESEMPIO., Grado aerospaziale, ad alta resistenza) require refined raw materials and production processes:
| Aluminum Alloy Grade | Costo al grammo (Solo materiale, RMB/grammo) | Proprietà chiave | Applicazioni tipiche |
| AL6061 (Industrial Grade) | 20 ~ 80 | Buona macchinabilità, forza moderata; economico | Parentesi industriali, non-critical structural parts |
| ALSI10MG (Aerospace Grade) | 50 ~ 150 | Rapporto elevato di forza-peso, resistente al calore; meets aerospace standards | Componenti dell'aeromobile, high-performance drone parts |
Nota chiave: Imported aluminum alloy powders (PER ESEMPIO., from EOS, Adaro) costo 2 ~ 3x more than domestic powders (PER ESEMPIO., from Chinese suppliers). Per esempio, imported AlSi10Mg powder costs 100 ~ 150 RMB/grammo, while domestic AlSi10Mg powder costs 50 ~ 80 RMB/grammo.
(3) Requisiti di post-elaborazione
Nearly all 3D printed aluminum alloy parts need post-processing to meet strength, precisione, and appearance standards. Each step adds significantly to the total cost per gram:
| Passaggio di post-elaborazione | Costo al grammo (RMB/grammo) | Scopo |
| Basic Polishing/Sanding | 10 ~ 50 | Remove surface roughness (RA da 3,2 μm a 1,6 μm); eliminate layer lines |
| High-Precision CNC Trimming | 50 ~ 200 | Ottenere tolleranze strette (± 0,01 mm); refine critical features (PER ESEMPIO., fori filettati, superfici di accoppiamento) |
| Electroplating/Coating | 30 ~ 150 | Enhance corrosion resistance (PER ESEMPIO., Anodizzante) or add aesthetic finish (PER ESEMPIO., matte silver) |
| Trattamento termico | 20 ~ 80 | Migliora la forza (PER ESEMPIO., T6 heat treatment for Al6061); reduce internal stress |
Esempio: A 50g part needing basic sanding costs 500 ~ 2,500 RMB in post-processing. The same part needing CNC trimming + anodizing costs 4,000 ~ 11,500 RMB—8x more.
(4) Volume dell'ordine
Order volume drastically impacts cost, as fixed costs (equipment setup, programmazione) sono distribuiti in più parti. Small batches are far more expensive than large-scale production:
| Volume dell'ordine | Costo al grammo (Totale, RMB/grammo) | Discount vs. Single Piece | Esempio: 50g AlSi10Mg Part (Tecnologia SLM) |
| Single Piece/Small Batch (<10 pezzi) | 250 ~ 450 | 0% (No Discount) | 50g × 350 RMB/gram = 17,500 RMB |
| Medium Batch (10 ~ 100 pezzi) | 150 ~ 250 | 20 ~ 40% | 50g × 200 RMB/gram = 10,000 RMB |
| Grande lotto (>100 pezzi) | 70 ~ 150 | 40 ~ 70% | 50g × 100 RMB/gram = 5,000 RMB |
Esempio: A single 50g aerospace bracket (SLM, ALSI10MG) costi 17,500 RMB. Ordinamento 100 of the same brackets drops the cost to 5,000 RMB each—71% cheaper.
2. Typical Cost Per Gram: Scenario-Based Breakdown
To see how all these factors align, below are three common scenarios for 3D printed aluminum alloy parts:
| Scenario | Tecnologia | Aluminum Alloy Grade | Post-elaborazione | Costo al grammo (RMB/grammo) | Esempio (10g Part Total Cost) |
| Small-Batch High-Precision Part | SLM | ALSI10MG | CNC Trimming + Trattamento termico | 250 ~ 450 | 2,500 ~ 4,500 RMB |
| Medium-Batch Industrial Part | EBM | AL6061 | Basic Polishing + Anodizzante | 100 ~ 200 | 1,000 ~ 2,000 RMB |
| Large-Batch Mass-Produced Part | Getto vincolante | AL6061 | Levigatura + Sfacciato | 70 ~ 150 | 700 ~ 1,500 RMB |
3. Practical Cost Reference for Common 3D Printed Aluminum Alloy Parts
To quickly gauge reasonable prices, below is a table of common part types and their typical costs:
| Tipo di parte | Dimensioni/Peso | Tecnologia | Costo al grammo (RMB/grammo) | Total Part Cost (RMB) |
| Custom Decorative Keychain | 2cm / 10G | Getto vincolante | 70 ~ 120 | 700 ~ 1,200 |
| Industrial Drone Mount | 10cm / 50G | EBM | 100 ~ 180 | 5,000 ~ 9,000 |
| Fascia aerospaziale | 8cm / 40G | SLM | 250 ~ 400 | 10,000 ~ 16,000 |
| Mass-Produced Fasteners | 1cm / 5G | Getto vincolante | 70 ~ 100 | 350 ~ 500 |
4. 4 Practical Tips to Reduce the Cost of 3D Printed Aluminum Alloys Per Gram
While 3D printed aluminum alloys are more costly than basic plastics, these strategies can lower expenses without sacrificing quality:
(1) Ottimizza la progettazione delle parti per ridurre l'utilizzo dei materiali
- Semplifica la geometria: Remove redundant features (PER ESEMPIO., unnecessary curves, oversize walls) to reduce part weight by 15 ~ 30%. Per esempio, a 50g bracket optimized to 35g saves 15g of material—cutting costs by 30%.
- Use hollow structures: For non-load-bearing parts (PER ESEMPIO., decorative keychains), design thin-walled (≥1mm) interni cavi per ridurre il consumo di materiale 20 ~ 40%.
(2) Choose Domestic Aluminum Alloy Powders
Polveri domestiche (PER ESEMPIO., dai produttori cinesi) Sono 50 ~ 60% più economiche delle alternative importate e soddisfano la maggior parte degli standard industriali. Per esempio, utilizzando polvere domestica AlSi10Mg (50 ~ 80 RMB/grammo) invece che importato (100 ~ 150 RMB/grammo) riduce della metà i costi dei materiali.
(3) Ordini in batch per sbloccare sconti
Anche piccoli aumenti del volume degli ordini comportano risparmi significativi. Se hai bisogno 50 parti finite 6 mesi, ordina tutto 50 subito invece di 10 al mese: questo sblocca a 20 ~ 40% sconto, riducendo il costo al grammo di 20 ~ 30%.
(4) Semplifica la post-elaborazione quando possibile
- Salta i passaggi non necessari: Per parti non di precisione (PER ESEMPIO., decorative keychains), evitare la rifinitura CNC e utilizzare invece la levigatura di base, risparmiando 50 ~ 200 RMB/grammo.
- Combine post-processing: Handle heat treatment and anodizing at the same facility to avoid shipping costs, reducing overall fees by 10 ~ 15%.
Yigu Technology’s Perspective on 3D Printed Aluminum Alloy Costs
Alla tecnologia Yigu, Crediamo matching technology and alloy grade to project needs is key to cost-effective 3D printed aluminum alloys. Many clients overspend by using SLM for mass-produced parts or imported powders for non-critical components—for example, using SLM (300 RMB/grammo) for a simple bracket that works with Binding Jetting (100 RMB/grammo). Our team recommends SLM with domestic AlSi10Mg for small-batch aerospace parts and Binding Jetting with Al6061 for mass-produced industrial components. We also optimize designs to reduce material use by 15 ~ 30% and negotiate bulk powder discounts. Our goal is to deliver high-quality 3D printed aluminum alloy parts at the lowest possible cost per gram.
Domande frequenti
- Why is 3D printed aluminum alloy more expensive than 3D printed plastic?
3D printed aluminum alloy requires high-cost equipment (SLM/EBM machines cost 1 ~ 10 million RMB vs. 10 ~ 30,000 RMB for resin printers) and specialized metal powders (20 ~ 150 RMB/gram vs. 0.02 ~ 0.2 RMB/gram for resin). Post-elaborazione (PER ESEMPIO., Rifilatura CNC, Trattamento termico) is also more complex and costly for metal parts.
- Can I use 3D printed aluminum alloy for small decorative parts (PER ESEMPIO., portachiavi) senza spese eccessive?
Yes—use Binding Jetting with Al6061 powder and basic sanding (no electroplating). A 10g keychain made this way costs 700 ~ 1,200 RMB, affordable for small-batch custom orders. Avoid SLM or high-grade AlSi10Mg for decorative parts, as they double or triple costs.
- How much does post-processing add to the total cost per gram of 3D printed aluminum alloy?
Post-processing typically adds 10 ~ 350 RMB/grammo, depending on steps. Basic sanding adds 10 ~ 50 RMB/grammo, while CNC trimming + anodizing adds 80 ~ 350 RMB/grammo. Per la maggior parte delle parti industriali, post-processing accounts for 20 ~ 50% of total cost per gram.